Wobbly weekend

Erick Delaurentis (#21) gets set for the face-off with linemate Parker Wood (#10) in Friday’s Woodchuck Tournament
match against the New Hampshire Monarchs. Delaurentis would get the game-winning goal in a shootout. It would be the
Dukes’ lone win in four games in Vermont.

Dukes set to open regular season

In what might be a portent of the season to come, the Dukes came away from the Woodchuck Tournament on Sunday with just a single overtime victory in four games to show for their weekend of effort.

More worrying is that the team lost rugged winger Josh Gervais for an indeterminate amount of time due to a serious shoulder injury suffered early in the Dukes’ match against the South Shore Kings on Saturday.

Gervais was surging up his wing when the Kings defender swung a massive elbow into the Dukes forward. The blow spun Gervais off balance and he hit the boards hard and ill-prepared. He was eventually able to leave the ice on his own but was taken immediately to seek medical care. It is expected Gervais will require surgery and weeks, if not months, of rehab before he skates again.

Gervais had doubled his point count last season over his first year as a Duke, scoring 15 goals. He and his team were expecting another big season from the Welland native. Now those expectations are on ice.

It was perhaps the cruelest blow in the Dukes’ poorest performance at the annual Woodchuck Tournament in South Burlington. For the young team it was a lot to take in—the fans, the scouts and the college recruiters arrayed in the stands, each with clipboards or notebooks.

DUKES 2-JR. BRUINS 3
Whether it was the distractions or the long bus ride, in any event, the Dukes got off to a sluggish start on Thursday night as the Boston Junior Bruins opened up a two-goal lead in the first period. The Dukes were able to come back to tie the game with goals from Parker Wood and Erick Delaurentis in the second frame. But the Junior Bruins regained the lead shortly thereafter and held the Dukes scoreless the rest of the way.

Rugged defender Kevin Swales will be leaned on
heavily to guide this young Dukes team through the
season. The Dukes’ regular season home opener is
set for 7:30 Friday. Chili will be served by the Ladies
of the Wellington Dukes as part of their home opener
tailgate party starting at 6 p.m.

DUKES 3-MONARCHS 2
On Friday the New Hampshire Monarchs opened a two-goal lead over the Dukes in the first period, but a pair of power play goals by Guillaume Naud and Jan Kaminsky in the second period evened the score. The stalemate continued until a shootout was required to settle the game. Mike Soucier, Naud and Delaurentis each scored with Delaurentis earning the winner.

DUKES 0-KINGS 4
On Saturday the Dukes faced a very strong and skilled team from Massachusetts. Most of the roster of the South Shore Kings has played together for the past three years. “They didn’t make any rookie mistakes,” said Dukes forward Craig Campbell.

The Dukes were back on their heels from the drop of the puck. The Kings dominated the opening frame. The Dukes regrouped in the second period and mounted a spirited pushback, but couldn’t score.

DUKES 0-HITMEN 3
On Sunday the story followed a now familiar pattern against the New Jersey Hitmen. The Dukes were up against an older and bigger team. They couldn’t get their feet moving and soon they were behind 3-0. By the time they found their speed the outcome was settled.

It was a disappointing performance but now the Dukes must shake it off and prepare for a new season.

UP NEXT: KINGSTON, WHITBY AND PICKERING
On Thursday the Dukes travel to Kingston to face the Voyageurss for the fifth time in a month (though this will be the first one to count). In their first two outings the Vees were shut out by Stouffville and took a 5-3 decision from Cobourg.

Then on Friday night the Dukes will host the Whitby Fury in the home opener at the Wellington and District Community Centre.

On Sunday the Dukes travel to Pickering to face the Panthers in a busy first week of action.

TAILGATE PARTY
Come celebrate a new season with chili and soda before the game on Friday night. The Ladies of the Wellington Dukes want to start things right and welcome back fans after a long off-season.

Everyone is welcome and the chili will begin being served at 6 p.m. The crock pots will be turned off at 7:15 so the ladies can enjoy the game.